The candidates are Tragedy (Melpomene), Comedy (Thalia) and Pantomime (Harlequin) and the theme of this celebratory, musical work, a Prelude - short topical work - is which of them is to dominate in the new Drury Lane Theatre, opened in September 1775. It was written for the opening of the rebuilt theatre. The prelude, like pantomime, was used to parody other theatrical forms.